Pota Phadraig or Patrick's Pot

Ordain a Statute to be Drunk
And burn Tobacco free as Spunk
And fat shall never be forgot"
In Usquebah, St. Patrick's Pot

The custom of drinking alcohol on St. Patrick's Day known as Pota Phadraig or Patrick's Pot comes from an old Irish legend. As the story goes, St. Patrick was served a shot of whiskey that was very small. St. Patrick decided to teach a lesson of generosity to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper that a devil who fed on the the innkeeper's dishonesty was in his cellar. In order to banish the devil, the man must change his ways. When St. Patrick returned to the inn some time later, he found the owner generously filling the glasses. He returned to the cellar with the innkeeper and the devil was so emaciated from the landlord's generosity, that St. Patick promptly banished it.

The custom may also be called "drowning the shamrock" because it is customary to float a clover leaf in the whiskey or beer before drinking it."

Today, people all over the world line up ready to partake in Patrick's Pot. One such example is the “Luck of the Irish” Pub Crawl in New York City. You can find the best list of irish pubs on StPatricksDay.com's Pub's Database.

Boston Irish take over the city on March 17, at about 5pm. Huge lines queue up at the bars, Irish or not, all over the city and a lot of drinks go down in and around Fanuiel Hall and on Union Street. This is a great time to try some Irish beers.

Savannah’s City Market is the scene of constant activity – bars and more bars; bands and more bands. Check out the Battle of the Bagpipes in front of Molly McPherson’s, with guests pipers from all over.

Regardless of where you are, celebrate the day, listen to Irish music, attend a special mass, watch a parade, wear the green, eat corned beef and cabbage, And of course partake in Pota Phadraig. Saint Patrick said it was OK.